This account of
the first continental herding trial, which was held in May 1892 in
Belgium, is in the Book, L'Historique du Berger Belge (History of the
Belgian Sheepdog), by Georges Van Ceulebroeck, 1983, Concord/Imprimerie
de Charleroi, Presles, Belgium.
The
Sheepdog Trials
The tests of
working sheepherding dogs, organized by the Collie Club and the Club of
the Belgian shepherd dog, took place on the 1st and 2nd of May, 1892, on
the premises of the market and slaughterhouse of Cureghem, Brussels. The
land, wide meadows cut by streams and banks, had been well prepared for
the event. A grandstand sheltered a large audience; at the center were
the judges: Mr. Dangis of Tinlot (Liege), president; Mr. Lousse of
Obaix-Buzet; Mr. Pinte of Fexhe le Haut-Clocher (Liege), Mr. Sillekens
of Anderlecht; and Mr. Wouters of Lierre. A flock of 200 sheep, crossed
merino and native French from Magdeburg, raised in the sheepfold, had
been supplied free of charge by Dewolf, rue Joseph Plateau,
Brussels.
These lambs, much
more difficult to drive than the sheep accustomed to dogs, were found
enclosed by tens in a series of small pens situated toward the far end
of the meadow and looking out on a triangular space defined by a plow
furrow and in which a small pen was emptied for each dog. The shepherd
stood at the exit of this funnel, on the road, between two
stakes.
He sent his dog to
get the small flock, which must accompany him on the six- to
eight-meter-wide road marked by the furrows, passing in an S-curve over
2 bridges and an earthen bank, to come to the gate of a latticework
enclosure leading to a sheepfold of tightly joined planks. This course
of about 200 meters had to be completed in less then 10 minutes.
When all goes well,
nothing appears more simple than this walk of a man followed by 10 sheep
pursued by a dog.
But this doesn't
always go easily and, when all went well one had to admire the composure
and the presence of mind of the shepherd, and even more the wisdom, even
temper and often the initiative of the dog. If, in going to find his
little flock, the dog does not use the greatest caution, if he frightens
his sheep, it's all over.
It had been agreed
to assign a penalty to the dog each time that it lets a sheep leave the
course, 2 points if two or more leave, 5 points if the dog bit an ear,
10 for biting the front foot or the throat, from 5 to 10 if he barked.
Dogs which bit excessively would be disqualified from the competition.
For the remainder (irregularities in the way of going, eccentric gait,
etc.), the judges would decide.
All is ready. The
shepherds advance, their dogs on leash; they cross the plain and go to
hide behind the fence concealing the penned sheep. It is the right
moment to take a photo.
When one sees this
moving procession, the men do not need to be carrying a crook to
indicate their profession. Although of different colors and with various
coats, all the dogs indicate well the shepherd dog type. And we say to
ourselves - but why on earth haven't all these beautiful animals been
shown? They would certainly be awarded prizes! Alas! We must ward off
this feeling. We have frequently noticed that animals of the same breed
always seem more beautiful in a group than they really are. Does this
optical effect come from looking at them with a paternal eye? Do we see
only the beautiful side?
Always, it is that
individuals in a group of very similar animals become more difficult to
examine in detail and that finally one does not find one single type to
be proposed as an ideal.
The dogs compete in
the order indicated by drawing lots.
#17 Faro, of Mr. A.
Thibeau of Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher (Liege), begins. The 10 sheep are
released, they crowd one against the other; the shepherd in vain
commands his dog to go get them: this dog is hardly worried. After
having granted him 10 long minutes, the jury excuses him from the
competition, and the sheep -- which it would have been unfair to entrust
to the following dog -- are driven to the other end of the course by one
man and a second backs him up.
#2 N., of Mr. Fr.
Nelis, Contich, did not compete.
#18 Picard, of Mr.
Thibeau of Voroux Goreux (Liege). It is 1:58 p.m. The dog makes a number
of circles around his little flock. He appears very ardent, too ardent
in proportion to the small number of sheep to drive. A sheep splits off,
then two more further on. It happens again and again, resulting in 7
penalty points; he finished the course in 3 minutes.
#3 Voss, of Mr.
Ferd. Willems of Forest, is a very calm old red dog. He quickly finished
the course, driving the 10 sheep before him.
#9 Louis, of Mr.
Guillaume Duchene, Poix (Luxembourg), a dark grey with a wire coat,
begins by letting a sheep split off, another escapes and returns on its
own. The dog bites it on the haunch. The dog is a little rough and
panics its sheep; it lets two more split off on the way; and then a
general stampede. One of the sheep is carried to the sheepfold on the
back of one of the helpers.
#20 Picard, a
9-year-old shorthaired black, of Mr. Van Camp, rue de Brabant,
Schaerbeek. This dog crosses behind his flock at a respectful distance.
The handler must be an excellent shepherd. The whole flock goes out of
bounds and the dog loses 2 points. Picard must be excellent in the
fields: he has an eye on his flock. He still loses 4 points for the
sheep having left the road, and brought them in in 3 minutes.
#7 Pierrot, a
grey-black with long coarse hair, of Mr. J. Colasse, lnstitut de
Gembloux. The dog drives his flock from behind without unduly disturbing
it, the shepherd commands well. Arriving in front of a bridge, the sheep
jump off the side. A little farther, they all stop. The dog makes a big
spurt, the sheep scatter and return to the pen on their own.
#16 Moef, a pale
red, without tail, with a woolly coat, of Mr. Verbest-Verdussen,
Heyst-op-den-Berg. Moef doesn't work, loses 5 points for having barked,
the sheep pass, but don't make much progress. The 10 minutes run out and
the dog is excused from the competition.
#11 Paul, of Mr.
Ch. Demulder, of Forest, a black dog with short hair, very lively. The
sheep go to the water (2 points); they escape at a gallop and stray (2
points); the dog goes to get them. One sheep has gone very far to the
top of the bank; it defends itself but Paul doesn't bite. An excellent
dog; it's unfortunate that he had to deal with a crazy sheep. The flock
passes several more times. Paul is good, but porly handled; in addition,
the judges take into account his having drawn the crazy sheep.
#8 Mol, brindle
with short coat, of Mr. Kneepens, chausee de Wavre, Brussels. The sheep
stay back, the dog fetches them: very good. Some sheep split off two
times. The dog is too strong for this job, he barks; the sheep stray
once again, another bark. The dog's work is irregular; the sheep go too
fast because they are too pressured, Mol will not be called back [for
the final competition on the following day].
#1 Poest, of Mr. J.
DeSmedt, Bouchout near Anvers, a young dog with short hair, red, without
tail. The shepherd goes very quickly; his dog is excessively prudent and
doesn't make a single unnecessary move. In two minutes the flock is at
its destination; but at the moment of passing through the gate, the dog
was behind the fence of the shut sheepfold, and the sheep veer left. Two
remain outside. The dog fetches them correctly; but such lost time! A
very good dog and well handled.
#13 Marquis, a
black without a tail, of Mr. Gust. De Mulder, chausse d' Anvers,
Molenbeek. The sheep stray (2 points); the dog barks (5 points); they
stray again (2 points); more barking (5 points), and the flock is
repenned well, after three minutes. Adding up, we find 14 points
deducted.
#10 Bless, a grey
with long coarse coat, of Mr. Willem Delaet, Dilbeek. The sheep stray,
Bless goes to get them, making a large curve; he circles them yet three
more times. A sheep tumbles into a brook, two men extract it covered
with slime, the other sheep mingle with the public around the
grandstand. The dog does not appear worried about it; the dog is
removed.
#6 Major, wire
coat, pale reddish grey, without tail, of Mr. Ch. Duyk, rue Vesale,
Brussels. The sheep cross the furrow. The dog stops on command, and goes
to hide himself. Good work, beautiful penning.
#19 Mure, black
dog, of Mr. Van Geel, Brussels. The sheep run toward the town, the dog
pursues them but does not bring them back; one of them is lost.
Naturally, this dog will not be called back [for the next day's
competition].
#22 X, a black with
short coat, of Mr. Van Bakel, Rouge Cloitre, Auderghem. The sheep do not
pass through the two stakes at the entrance of the course and the dog
loses 2 points, it barks (5 points). The dog is very good and quick. The
repenning is accomplished in 2-1/2 minutes.
#25 X, a large
black and white dog with woolly coat, of Mr. Alph. Lacasse of Ochain. It
lets the sheep stray two times, barks two times. This dog, rather grippy
and excessively lively, is a little young and by far much too fiery for
10 sheep. He would be excellent for driving a flock of 200-300 head
every day.
#4 Basoef, an old
brindle dog with short hair, without tail, of Mr. J.-B. Janssen of
Laeken. The shepherd having run the whole way, which should be taken as
incorrect, repenned his sheep in 1-1/2 minutes. The dog was not very
careful.
#5 Voss, a fine old
pale yellow dog, handled by an old man, Mr. Adrien Janssen, the father
of the previous exhibitor. The dog, very careful, works well off the
stock, but always watches; approaches at once on command. It is perfect.
There are three rounds of applause from the grandstand. The public
demands "La Brabanconne"!
#11 Paul, black
with long soft coat, with an admirable beauty in action. He has the
elegance of the collie. He knows how to inspire confidence in his sheep.
He comes too far in front; the shepherd commands him to get back. Very
good.
#24 Nette, very
small black and white bitch, of Mr. Jacques Kneepkens, chausee de
Louvain, Schaerbeek. From the beginning, the little bitch works too
close and frightens her sheep; they take off too quickly; the dog comes
too near and in front. Some sheep split off -- once, twice; the dog
barks, three times. Useless to continue counting up the point
deductions.
#15 Milord, 4
years, black and grey speckled [probably blue merle] with long coat, of
Mr. Van Bogget, chausee d'Alsemberg 327, Uccle. Milord goes ahead of the
sheep which are following well. They stop; Milord fetches them. The
shepherd has a very intelligent manner, places his dog in front when the
dog wasn't needed, but as soon as the sheep have to be pushed, Milord is
in position. It is the right tactic. Perfect.
#12 Menneke, of Mr.
Ch. De Mulder, rue du Moulin, Forest. A little brownish-black dog, with
smooth hair, not much bigger than a schipperke. The same manner of
handling the dog in front and at a distance. It is perfect, and there's
no lack of applause from the audience.
The first round is
ended. The course will be repeated tomorrow at one o'clock. The judges
decided to call back nos. 18, 3, 20, 14, 1, 6, 22, 4, 5, 11, 15 and 12.
Second Day
The stands begin to
fill toward two o'clock.
#3 begins at 2:12;
he worked well and repenned his sheep in three minutes with 4 point
deductions.
#14: He took the
same number of minutes and received the same number of deductions; his
work was passable.
#20 Picard, the old
16-yead-old dog, was too quick. A sheep breaks away, then two split off
two times; the dog brings them back, all very animatedly. All the flock
scatters in front of the pen. Good work, but Picard had bad luck and had
9 bad points.
#6 Major, the old
travelling dog with coarse coat and without a tail. The sheep are
hurried, the shepherd is obliged to stop them several times with his
cane; one of them splits off, escapes, and in going to get it at a
distance of 100 metres the dog performs a beautiful feat. He stays
always on the side, his driving is extra close at the sheepfold, but
from it he has no fewer than 7 points deducted.
#4 Basoef is
handled by a very shrewd shepherd, too shrewd, for yesterday he had run
all the way, but the dog didn't have any faults. Today all the sheep go
out of bounds; further on, one splits off. At the moment of repenning,
the dog goes to hide along the fence, the flock halts, two sheep want to
break away, but the old dog is alert. Basoef listens well, he worked
well. The sheep are repenned in 4 minutes.
#5 The old dog Voss
with his old master. The dog, whose work had been perfect the day
before, goes in front, makes big turns on command and doesn't receive
any deductions, but the old shepherd did not succeed in containing his
own eagerness and ran three times. Now, before resuming the competition,
it had been agreed to give-2 penalties each time that a shepherd did not
remain at a walk. It is not permitted to run except when the flock
passes by a path between two crops. In that case one must not allow the
sheep the time to seize anything during the passage.
#22 The black dog
with short hair which yesterday had 7 points, 5 of which were for
barking, doesn't make many mistakes this time. He repens the sheep very
well in 3 minutes.
#15 Milord, whose
work had been perfect yesterday, again worked perfectly today. He holds
himself in front and completed the course in 4-1/2 minutes.
#12 Menneke, the
small black dog, is obedient and handled well. He doesn't make a single
mistake. Besides, the good shepherds have the best dogs. Menneke is
curious: for fear of frightening the sheep when they were driven out of
the park, he begins by hiding himself behind the fence and looking
through the cracks to see if he's needed.
1 Poets [spelled
"Poest" above], the red dog with short hair, who lost 4 points
yesterday, works without a single fault today. He is calm and gentle.
#11 Paul, the
beautiful black, has but one very small fault to his liabilities -- he
has let a single sheep stray. This dog doesn't appear to work enough.
The tests of the
second day lacked variety, and that is understandable: one saw only the
better dogs doing their job correctly. There aren't any more of those
general stampedes that make the public laugh; no more sheep half lamed,
no baths, no barking, no hot tempers. The judges have included, and to
make a diversion, that as it was only 3-1/2 hours [for all the runs to
be completed], the jury has invited the shepherd Van Bogget with his
Milord to get the 110 sheep beyond the sheepfold -- not in competition,
of course. It takes several men to take out the flock. A steward
suggests having the dog enter. Unanimous protests from the judges. What!
Never, but never, does one let a dog enter a pen of sheep. Milord gave
us a good show: this animal so gentle, so careful with 10 sheep,
transformed itself, grew lively, working from the head to the tail of
the flock without too much biting. It was truly admirable.
It remains to see
nos. 12 against 15 for the first and second prizes; nos. 11 and 1 for
the fourth and fifth prizes.
#12 Menneke is very
careful, he doesn't make a mistake. All of the large flock passes by,
the dog recovers them very well and continues well to the end. The only
reproach to his work, is that he works a little too much towards the
head only.
If the jury had
counted up the points mechanically, Menneke would have captured them,
but "all liberty is left to the judges to form their evaluation and make
their decision."
Now, they find
Milord by far superior to the little black dog.
#1 Poets doesn't
make a mistake.
#11 Paul lets the
sheep pass outside of the stakes; further on, they leave the course
again. The Jury deliberates. Two judges vote for Milord, two for
Menneke, the fifth abstains. Asked to give a decision, he votes for
Milord. Results: 1st- Milord; 2nd- Menneke; 3rd- Voss; 4th- Poets; 5th-
Paul; 6th- Basoef .
The other
contestants called back for the second day, nos. 3. 6, 14, 20 and 22,
receive a diploma. Prizes of 100, 80, 60, 40, 20 F. and a certificate.
------------------------------------------------
A subsequent
section in L'Historique du Berger Belge contains additional comments on
the above trial, included in an account of activities of the Belgian
Sheepdog Club:
The club, in
cooperation with the Colley Club, has organized a great exposition on
the premises of the new slaugherhouse of Curaghem. More than that, to
the two clubs united falls by right the honor of having organized the
first trials of sheepdogs on the continent. The dogs driving the flocks
were judged by specialists coming from all parts of the country. The
contestants were all professional shepherds. The president hopes that at
the next trials the public will see equally the dogs of amateurs. If
their success has been very great, the financial results have been far
from satisfactory. The extraordinary expenses made on this occasion can
be avoided in the future thanks to the experience gained. Moreover, we
have seen from the accounts of the treasurer that the total deficit
doesn't rise above 203 francs, which scarcely jeopardizes the existence
of the club.
The judges of the
club have functioned once again to the arrangements of the Schipperke
Club. The new trials, whose program is under consideration, are to be
organized at Spa, under the patronage of the Royal St. Hubert Society
[Belgian Kennel Club].
---------------------
In a following
section, the author of the book comments: "It appears to me interesting
to publish two articles that discuss the driving of sheep by sheepdogs,
inasmuch as this activity has disappeared nowadays, or nearly," and
under the heading, "Sheepdog trials (1)", more of the old account is
reprinted:
The trials of
sheepdogs are soon going to be generalized on the continent. Brussels
has set a good example. Lyon will follow suit next July, the Phylax
society will not remain inactive in Germany. The work of dogs will vary
according to the customs of each country, but the principles will remain
the same. It will be interesting then to investigate in what different
ways this useful and inoffensive sport is practiced in England . . .
[Then follows a description of British trials, with three "Mountain"
sheep being worked over the familiar ISDS type of course]. Under the
next heading, "Sheepdog Trials (2):
We were saying not
long ago that after Brussels the first trials of shepherd dogs on the
continent will take place in Bordeaux, under the patronage of the
Society of courses of Bonneterre. We have learned to our great regret
that, for particular reasons, the competition committee had decided to
put back to the next year their international canine exposition, and
consequently their trials of shepherd dogs.
The probabilities
are therefore that after the trials of Brussels will follow those of Spa
next August.
Meanwhile we
continue to investigate the different manners of working the dogs. That
which follows is drawn from "Stock Keeper" by Geo. F. B., Somerset near
Derby [then follow comments on British trialling taken from "Stock
Keeper", which include the comment that the only sheep suitable for
trials are the "wild" sheep of Wales and Scotland, and it is noted with
regard to sheep that the Scottish and Welsh sheep are much more
managable than "ours"(that is, English) of long wool; a dog must be
rougher and more enterprising with these, the ewes and the lambs above
all demand to be pushed.]
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